End of the road for Douglas Costa! LA Galaxy cut ties with former Bayern Munich & Juventus flop

• Costa leaves Galaxy
• Ex-Juventus winger now free agent
• Galaxy open up DP spot for offseason

WHAT HAPPENED? After two years in Los Angeles, Costa has left the Galaxy ahead of his contract expiring at the end of 2024. Across 51 appearances, he scored eight goals and notched 12 assists, but overall, his time with the club was unsuccessful and plagued by off-field incidents.

Costa's departure, however, opens up a Designated Player spot ahead of what might be their most crucial offseason to date as an organization.

WHAT THEY SAID: “We’d like to thank Douglas for his contributions to the LA Galaxy,” said LA Galaxy head coach and sporting director Greg Vanney. “We wish him and his family the best in the next step of his career.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE: In May 2023, an arrest warrant in Brazil was issued at Costa for his failure to pay child support. His contract with LA was the seventh-highest guaranteed in MLS, but the numbers he produced were closer to that of someone on a veteran's minimum.

The Galaxy's 2023 season was their 'worst-ever', with the club missing the expanded 2023 MLS playoffs, which followed the firing of 11-year president Chris Klein earlier in the season. For one of the league's most storied clubs, 2023 was a year to forget, as was Costa's time in a Galaxy kit.

IN TWO PHOTOS:

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Getty

WHAT NEXT? Costa will be on the hunt for a new club, while Galaxy will be hoping for much better in the 2024 MLS season.